Casabianca, commanded by Capitaine de frégate Jean L'Herminier, had a role in the liberation of Corsica, and was an important link between occupied France and the Free French government based in Algiers.

Casabianca was in port at Toulon in November 1942 when the Germans enacted Case Anton, the annexation of the area of France previously controlled by the Vichy government.

Capitaine de corvette Jean L'Herminier, commander of Casabianca, instead took his submarine out to sea and escaped to Algiers to join the Allies.

The British conservative MP Keith Monin Stainton served as a liaison officer aboard the submarine in 1943, whilst a Royal Navy lieutenant.

[2] From 1943 until 1944 Charles William Beattie, a Royal Navy Signals specialist, also served on board Casabianca to safeguard and interpret secret cyphers sent to the boat whilst out on station.

The men were landed on an isolated beach at Arone, near the village of Piana, in the north west of Corsica, where a monument now exists.

Cited 7 times out of which 6 at the orders of the navy [clarification needed], Casabianca was decorated with the Croix de guerre 1939–1945 and was awarded the Red Fourragere of the Légion d'honneur.